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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 1302 asked in the Legislative Council on 30 November 2022 by Hon Martin Aldridge

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER PRESUMPTION — FIRST RESPONDERS

1302. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Minister for Emergency Services:

I refer to the minister's response to question without notice 1190 asked on 22 November regarding presumptive post-traumatic stress injury protections for fire and emergency services personnel, to which he stated, ''I am not responsible for ambulance workers.''

(1) How many firefighters have assisted with driving ambulances this year?

(2) Given that it has been almost one year since the government announced presumptive protection for ambulance workers, when will the minister provide comparable protection to volunteers and employees in the fire and emergency services organisations?

(3) Has the government advised the United Professional Firefighters Union that an expansion of presumptive protections must be bargained for as part of enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations?

(4) If yes to (3), was this the case for ambulance workers?

Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

(1) A total of 77 firefighters assisted.

(2) The Department of Fire and Emergency Services' existing arrangements are effective and efficient in managing current PTSI claims. DFES continues to seek advice and assess the implementation of post-traumatic stress illness presumption in Western Australia. Volunteers are not part of the workers' compensation system.

(3) The state government engages with the United Professional Firefighters Union on a wide range of matters raised by its members. Enterprise bargaining creates another forum in which both unions and employers can discuss a wide variety of matters that are important to the workforce.

(4) Not applicable.